Christopher Wren Quotes

“A time will come when men will stretch out their eyes. They should see planets like our Earth.”

“Architecture aims at Eternity.”

“Architecture has its political Use; publick Buildings being the Ornament of a Country; it establishes a Nation, draws People and Commerce; makes the People love their native Country, which Passion is the Original of all great Actions in a Common-wealth.”

“Choose an author as you choose a friend.”

“He was of opinion that what we now vulgarly call the Gothick, ought properly and truly be named Saracenick Architecture refined by the Christians.”

“In things to be seen at once, much variety makes confusion, another vice of beauty. In things that are not seen at once, and have no respect one to another, great variety is commendable, provided this variety transgress not the rules of optics and geometry.”

“Mathematical demonstrations being built upon the impregnable Foundations of Geometry and Arithmetick are the only truths that can sink into the Mind of Man, void of all Uncertainty; and all other Discourses participate more or less of Truth according as their Subjects are more or less capable of Mathematical Demonstration.”

“Neither need we fear to diminish a miracle by explaining it.”

“The secret of architectural excellence is to translate the proportions of a dachshund into bricks, mortar and marble.”

“Variety of uniformities makes complete beauty.”